Venezuela ejects top ranking US officials

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks at the National Electoral Council (CNE) headquarters in Caracas, during the act in which he was proclaimed as re-elected President for the term 2019-2025, on May 22, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Venezuela has kicked out the top two US diplomatic representatives in the country in response to Washington's latest round of sanctions imposed over recent election results.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the expulsion of US charge d'affaires Todd Robinson and deputy head of mission Brian Naranjo and declared both of them "persona non grata."

"They must leave the country in 48 hours in protest and in defense of the dignity of the Venezuelan homeland... Enough of conspiracies!," he said,

Maduro made the announcement via a nationally televised speech after being officially proclaimed the winner of Sunday's election.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump boosted sanctions against Caracas, making it harder for the country to liquidate state assets.

"I repudiate all the sanctions that are sought against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, because they harm it, they generate suffering for the people of Venezuela," said Maduro.

We will present evidence to the country of the conspiracy in the military field of the United States charge d'affaires and his embassy, of the conspiracy in the economic field and of the conspiracy in the political field," he added.

Venezuela's foreign ministry released a statement referring to the sanctions "a crime against humanity."

"Venezuela once again condemns the systematic campaign of aggression and hostility by the US regime to punish the Venezuelan people for exercising their right to vote," read the statement.

These arbitrary and unilateral measures constitute a crime against humanity," it added.